A nurse is performing a dietary assessment for a client. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask when assessing the client's dietary acculturation?

Rationale:

A. Reinforce orientation to time, place, and person: Regularly providing cues about the current time, location, and people helps reduce confusion and anxiety in clients with dementia. Orientation reinforcement supports cognitive functioning and promotes a sense of safety.

B. Refute the client’s delusions using logic: Arguing or attempting to correct delusions can increase agitation and distress. Therapeutic communication focuses on validation and redirection rather than confrontation, making this approach inappropriate for dementia care.

C. Establish eye contact when communicating with the client: Maintaining eye contact helps ensure the client’s attention and conveys engagement and respect. It enhances understanding and supports effective communication, especially when verbal comprehension may be impaired.

D. Give the client one simple direction at a time: Breaking tasks into single, clear instructions reduces cognitive overload and frustration. This approach increases the likelihood that the client can follow directions and participate successfully in activities of daily living.

E. Allow the client to choose among a variety of activities each day: While offering choices promotes autonomy, offering a large variety can be overwhelming for a client with dementia, leading to confusion, anxiety, and decision paralysis. The nurse should offer limited choices

Rationale:

A. Calcium: While calcium is important for many bodily functions, it is not a primary indicator for monitoring hepatic encephalopathy. Calcium imbalances do not directly correlate with the severity or management of this condition.

B. Potassium: Potassium levels are important for overall electrolyte balance, but they are not specific to hepatic encephalopathy. Monitoring potassium is part of routine care but does not indicate the progression or severity of encephalopathy.

C. Ammonia: Elevated ammonia levels are a key contributor to hepatic encephalopathy. The liver normally converts ammonia to urea, and when liver function is impaired, ammonia accumulates, affecting neurological function. Monitoring ammonia helps assess severity and guide treatment interventions.

D. Glucose: While glucose monitoring is important in general care, it is not specific to hepatic encephalopathy. Hyper- or hypoglycemia may occur with liver disease but does not directly reflect the presence or progression of encephalopathy.